foreground, Nancy Topf; background, Jon Gibson
“Bones are about being. Muscles are about doing.”
-Nancy Topf
Dancer, Choreographer, Teacher
Nancy Topf (1942–1998), a student of Barbara Clark, pioneered Anatomical Release Technique, Movement Education, and Repatterning Work with collaborators John Rolland, Marsha Paludan, and Mary Fulkerson. Over thirty years, Topf developed her approach, called Topf Technique®/Dynamic Anatomy – recognized by ISMETA® as an official somatic movement education training. Topf was a choreographer, dancer, and internationally known teacher. She danced in the first formal showing of contact improvisation.
above: Nancy with Mylar blanket
Now Available:
A Guide to a Somatic Movement Practice
The Anatomy of Center
An introduction to embodied movement through the work of a dance education pioneer
In this introduction to the work of somatic dance education pioneer Nancy Topf (1942–1998), readers are ushered on a journey to explore the movement of the body through a close awareness of anatomical form and function. Making available the full text of Topf’s The Anatomy of Center for the first time in print, this guide helps professionals, teachers, and students of all levels integrate embodied, somatic practices within contexts of dance, physical education and therapy, health, and mental well-being.
above: Nancy and Jen Harmon at Windover
above: Nancy with her skeleton Lombardo